A workplace injury can be destabilizing for employees. Carpal tunnel & repetitive stress injuries in Orange County workplaces often take a long time to show serious symptoms. When the injury develops over a period of time, it can be difficult to know how to prove it to your employer. Understanding what evidence to gather can help streamline your claim process.
Hire a Repetitive Motion Injury Lawyer to Fight on Your Behalf
The team at Canlas Law Group is proud to be a pillar in California’s legal community. We’ve dedicated our professional lives to advocating for those who may not understand the full extent of their legal rights or California law.
Experiencing a workplace injury can feel devastating. Your life may be changed forever. We value giving our clients the tools and legal knowledge they need to take back control of their lives. With awards from SuperLawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and more, we know how to fight back against employers and insurance companies who deny you what you need.
What Are Carpal Tunnel and Repetitive Stress Injuries?
In 2021, 9% of adults in the United States reported having a repetitive strain injury. Around one to three incidents of carpal tunnel occur per 1,000 residents in the United States.
A repetitive motion injury happens when a person does the same motion over and over again, resulting in long-term strain on the body part being used. While these injuries can happen during any activity, they commonly develop from work.
In 2024, there were 3.4 workplace injuries per 100 employees in Orange County. The top industries in the county in 2023 were healthcare and manufacturing, both high-risk industries for employee injuries.
Repetitive motion injuries can result from a wide variety of motions, from typing on the computer to operating heavy machinery. These injuries can lead to:
- Tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow
- Strains and sprains
Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
After realizing you have been injured due to your work, you’ll have 30 days to inform your employer, both verbally and in writing. Repetitive stress injuries can be difficult to prove to your employer. You’ll need to gather extensive evidence to support your claim that your injury happened because of your work. Your lawyer can help collect and preserve:
- Testimony from eyewitnesses who saw your injury develop over time, as well as the cause
- Testimony from professionals about what they believe caused your injury
- Documentation of your financial losses, such as medical bills and lost income due to missing work from your injuries
- Documentation of your emotional losses, such as notes from a therapist about your mental state or testimony from loved ones
- A written, detailed timeline of events
- Copies of incident reports and your medical records
- Photos and videos that are relevant to your injury, such as the motion or the product that caused your injury
- Any other relevant evidence that can provide clarity to your employer
What to Do if Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied
Employers may reject a worker’s compensation claim for a repetitive motion injury if they believe the injury wasn’t caused by your job. California workers are entitled to appeal workers’ compensation denials. If you do, your case will be assigned to a hearing judge.
You’ll then attend a settlement meeting between the insurance company and your lawyer. You’ll all work together to agree on a settlement offer. If you are unable to reach an agreement, the case may proceed to trial, where a judge will have the final say.
It’s important to hire a repetitive motion injury lawyer during this time. They’ll be able to advocate for you during the meeting and potential trial to increase your chances of success.
FAQs About Carpal Tunnel & Repetitive Stress Injuries in Orange County Workplaces
What Benefits Can I Receive for a Repetitive Stress Workplace Injury in California?
The benefits you can receive for a repetitive stress workplace injury in California include partial wages and medical treatment, such as medications, medical supplies and devices, hospital and doctor visits, travel costs related to care, and home health care. Your partial wages will start two weeks after you start taking time off work to recover, and they will be two-thirds of your average weekly wage. They are paid to you biweekly until you can return to work.
What Are Permanent Disability Payments for Repetitive Stress Injuries in California?
Injured workers may be entitled to receive permanent disability payments in California after their repetitive stress injury. Whether you can receive these payments depends on the nature of your job, your age, and the severity of your injury. If awarded to you, you’ll receive lifetime payments based on a percentage of your average weekly wage. These wages are increased every year based on California’s wage growth.
Can I Open a Third-Party Claim for My Carpal Tunnel Workplace Injury?
Depending on the specific details of what happened to you, you may be able to open a third-party claim for your carpal tunnel workplace injury. These claims help you recover compensation from responsible third parties, such as the product manufacturer of the faulty product that led to your injury. You’ll have two years to do so. These cases are typically filed at the Central Justice Center, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West in Santa Ana.
How Much Compensation Can I Get in a Carpal Tunnel Personal Injury Case?
The amount of compensation you can get in a carpal tunnel personal injury case depends on the clarity of liability and the extent of your injuries and losses. Courts allow victims to request damages to recover compensation for their medical bills, lost income due to missing work from injuries, damage to personal belongings, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.
Can I Win Punitive Damages in My Repetitive Stress Workplace Injury Case?
You may be able to win punitive damages in your repetitive stress workplace injury case, depending on the specific details of what happened. If the responsible party acted with extreme malice or negligence, you can request punitive damages to help further punish them and deter similar behavior from happening in the future. These damages can be awarded on top of regular compensation.
Choose an Injury Law Firm With Years of Professional Experience
Contact Canlas Law Group today to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our lawyers at our office in Cerritos. Our firm represents clients living in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and all of Southern California.
You don’t need to go through this difficult time by yourself. Let our skilled team help you seek a brighter future.
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